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By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The top seeded Dora Falcons (28-2) ran past the second seeded Norwood Pirates 84-57 on Friday night, in Norwood, to grab this year’s Class 1 District 4 Basketball Championship.
“Our kids played pretty well tonight. But our guys have been playing well all season long,” said Dora head basketball coach Rick Luna. “But getting the win tonight, and another district championship, is something we’re all very proud of.”
District championships are nothing new to the Falcons, who with their win on Friday night, have now won three district titles in a row.
Dora was led by 6’2″ junior guard Isaac Haney who found his way to the bucket for 31 points. Mason Luna also had a big night for the Falcons with 25.
Countering for Norwood (18-11) was 6’1″ sophomore guard Garrett Davault with 27. Junior guard Zack Black added nine.
The Falcons transition game allowed Dora to outscore the Pirates 20-12 in the first quarter and 27-13 in the second to grab a commanding twenty-two point lead, 47-25, at the half.
“We wanted to play aggressively on defense, go to the boards strong and turn rebounds and turnovers into easy baskets for us,” said the Falcon’s Mason Luna.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Haney hit five field goals and made good on nine of nine free throw attempts for nineteen points to lead the Falcon first half assault. Close behind was Mason Luna with 17. Norwood’s Davault had eleven.
The Falcons outscored Norwood 24-17 in the third period to push their lead up to twenty-nine, 71-42, as the game’s fourth and final frame of play got underway.
Norwood, who trailed throughout the ballgame, never gave up though and rallied to outscore Dora in the fourth frame 15-13. It was too little too late for the Pirates though who fell in the Class 1 District 4 final to Dora 84-57.
“We knew we were going to have our hands full tonight,” said Norwood head coach Shane Chadwell. “They’re really a very good team, well-balanced and well coached. But our kids battled tonight and I’m very proud of their effort.”
As the C1D4 champion Dora now heads on to next week’s sectionals where they’ll take on South Iron (29-0) on Mar. 3rd.
“It’s going to be a great matchup for us, they’re a very good team,” said Falcon coach Luna. “We’ve played each other before so we’re familiar with each other. It should be a great game.”
While the loss may have ended this year’s basketball season for Norwood it didn’t end their coach’s optimism about what’s coming up next year.
“We started three sophomores, one junior and a freshman so we were very young this year,” said the Pirate’s coach Chadwell. “So I’d say the future looks bright for Norwood basketball. There’s really a lot for our school and community to be excited about.”
Box Score 1 2 3 4 F
Norwood 12 13 17 15 57
Dora 20 27 24 13 84
Leading Scorers:
Dora: 1. Isaac Haney 31/2. Mason Luna 25/3. Bryson Luna 12/4. Waylon Masters 7/5. Auston Luna 7/6. Jacob Freiman 2. (FT’s 17-25-84%)
Norwood: 1. Garrett Davault 27/2. Zack Black 9/3. Gavin Dunn 6/4. Jacob Sinning 6/5. Justin Chadwell 4/6. Jalen Drake 3/7. Gavin McGraw 2. (FT’s 5-8-63%)
